scientology & celebrities

thirded, total trash

huge misfire.

it just regurgitates info that's already out there for anyone who's watched/read going clear or any of the other many articles/docs about what they do.

the only good bit was the weird paz de la huerta cameo.

I thought the Miscavige guy was a real find

The whole thing of them trying to cast people to recreate the information films is so pointless. It goes on for ages and doesn't illuminate anything.

i think they were hoping for a scientologist infiltrator but it didn't happen

well, louis got absolutely no access, so had to build the film from nothing.
and at times it really felt like it.
you knew things were desperate when he made such a big point over the fact that he could not stand on the road that the church folks insisted was theirs, and it wasn't (as per the last credit in the film).
i have seen more interesting stuff happen between neighbours in my little town.

The music in the "Going Clear" film is... not good. "I didn't realise it but I was severly depressed!" *sad theremin*

I've been watching the Leah Remini Scientology series (which is now on Netflix). Scientology is such a distillation of everything wrong with America. The overly-legalistic justifications for their behavior. The ludicrous billion-year contracts. The pyramid scheme bullshit going on at every level - buying and then being forced to hawk the stupid books and DVDs in order to progress. The easily-unverified grandiose claims. You get a reminder of those at every commercial break as they show the ridiculous legal disclaimers ("The Church Of Scientology disputes the credibility of those appearing on the program") that I assume Scientology forced them to display.

On Sunday we posted a document from a source who claimed it was proof that in recent years #Scientology ran a widespread scam to bury members in credit card debt, calling it the 'Chase Wave.' Now 2 recent defectors come forward, on the record, to confirm they were swept up in it.

— Tony Ortega (@TonyOrtega94) November 16, 2021

Who better to contribute to talk about the subject than a new king of sketchiness, mysteriously returned to Twitter after half a year away?

Here’s the intro to my piece about Scientology which comes out tomorrow.

If you want to read it first and support my work, click the link below to subscribe.https://t.co/BmSiwi9WTj pic.twitter.com/ZyzC62lUDm

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 27, 2022

So this is happening

https://www.insider.com/danny-mastersons-trial-in-one-of-biggest-in-scientology-history-2022-10

So weird

https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/shelly-miscavige-more-about-the-place

You need to be an LA Times subscriber to read it but none of this is surprising.

Submitted in a downtown Los Angeles court as part of a years-old civil lawsuit against Scientology, the document referenced a purported effort by the church to “derail” the criminal proceedings against Masterson.

“Defendants and their agents engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at one of the prosecutors assigned to Defendant Masterson’s trial,” the declaration from civil attorney Simon Leen read. “That prosecutor’s home and car windows were broken, the prosecutor’s home electronics were tampered with, and Defendants’ agents surveilled the prosecutor....

But it was not the first time the church was quietly — and publicly — accused of attempting to interfere in Masterson’s years-long legal saga.

In a speech last fall, L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Reinhold Mueller delivered remarks that contained allegations nearly identical to those from the lawsuit, according to a video reviewed by The Times.

In the speech, given after he received an award for his work on the Masterson case, Mueller told hundreds of colleagues, including former Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, about a pattern of disturbing incidents he allegedly experienced in late 2022, ahead of the sitcom star’s first trial.

Mueller said he was “run off the road” and that his home was vandalized, according to the video. He also said that cellular and internet service had been inexplicably knocked out at his residence.

LAPD detectives on the case were also “stalked,” Mueller said in the video, and had their “photographs taken while they were off-duty.”

at my former house, there was an unassuming-looking guy who lived across the street with his wife. my understanding is he was a former scientology member. this guy was just an HVAC repair guy, driving an old blue van, living in a very basic gray stucco duplex probably about 700 sq ft in size. he would have scientology foot soldiers coming by once per week, knocking on his door, peering in his windows, walking around the back trying to see if he was around. a couple times he answered the door and reluctantly (or so it appeared) let them in. they'd always show up in teams of two or three. it was one of those really creepy glimpses into their endeavors, like if they'd devote that much time to one random guy how much effort would they put into more important figures?

knowing what we know now, it's just insane to me that anyone would voluntarily join this 'church'